VIDEO: Fire razes Okobaba “Plank Village” of Lagos
This article has been updated.
Makoko slum dwellers almost went through another hell on Tuesday after a fire in a nearby timber market threatened to spread to their tilt houses.
A section of Okobaba (or “Plank Village” or “Plank Market”) in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos State was razed to ashes on Tuesday evening.
Many social media users shared the horrifying images online. We got one from @bizzleo1 on Instagram.
Reports say some motorists parked their cars on Third Mainland Bridge to watch the raging flames lick away at the willing woods.
The “village” is nested on the Lagos Lagoon so motorists who plied nearby sections of the bridge should see the flames.
Probably because Makoko was visible from the area, early commentary erroneously reported the area was in Makoko. Makoko, which witnessed devastating fire disasters in the past, was a trend on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
Most of the pictures of the Oko Oba fire incident were posted on social media by users who were returning from work.
“It around Coates Street in Ebute-Metta,” an eyewitness told Newsroom on Tuesday night.
“I saw it when I was coming back from my office in Marina,” she said.
“The fire started in the afternoon. Fire fighters were unable to access the place on time because it is at the back of Coates Street near the canal where they sell planks.”
The Ebute-Metta inferno came barely hours after another fire was reported to have razed the popular Prince Ebeano Supermarket in Lekki area of Lagos on Tuesday.
